Seahawks ‘just don‘t understand’ the Super Bowl-losing play call

nypost.com ^ | February 2, 2015 | Paul Schwartz

[Berlin_Freeper]

There were plenty of explanations offered, first by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, then by offensive coordinator Darren Bevell and quarterback Russell Wilson, but at the end of Super Bowl XLIX, with everyone left breathless, the question still hanging out there along with the confetti falling on the victorious Patriots:

How in the world does Marshawn Lynch, as fearsome a runner as there is, not get the ball on second down from the New England 1-yard line in the final seconds?

“We had it,’’ Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “I don’t know how you don’t give it to the best back in the league on not even the 1-yard line? We were on the half-yard line and we throw a slant. I don’t know what the offense had going on, what they saw. I just don’t understand.’’

[TexasCajun]

And remember, it was only 2nd down.

[knarf]

I think we fans ... both Patriot AND Seahawk have our own little brand of shock to deal with

I personally see both plays ... the incomplete by the Seahawks that never touched the ground and came up in LEGAL posession of the Hawks and of course, Malcom's play of just BEING in the correct place to receive the ball ...
miraculous.

BOTH plays outshine the Hail Mary

[chimera]

A pass play on 2nd down isn't necessarily a bad call but it should not be over the middle into traffic. You had to know the linebackers would be clogging the center expecting a run and that puts them in position to make a pick, which is what happened. So if you're going to try a pass do a fade to the corner or something. If that fails then punch it in on 3rd and 4th down.

But, armchair coaching after the fact is easy, so its time for me to STHU.

[Dr. Ursus]

The pass should have been a fade to the tight end or The tall reciever.

[jocon307]

Hubby said to me, in the most plaintive tone: why, J. WHY did he just do that?

And hubby is not a huge fan.

There was something really disheartening about it.

[mad_as_he$$]

Agree, pass not necessarily the wrong call. But, a pic over the middle with no room to open up was just stooped.

[Usagi_yo]

True enough a certain % of times you pass, but very rarely on 2 and goal. Which is much different than the 2 and 1.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I look at it this way. I'm a some-time football fan who knows about as much about the game as any other Joe. The Seahawks' coach is a highly-paid, highly-skilled professional coach with many years' experience and a through understanding of the game who has led his team to victory time and again. What I know about football compared to what he knows is as a drop of water to a bucketful.

Now, there's no way in hell I would have called a pass on that play. Therefore, passing was the correct option.

[showme_the_Glory]

Patriots had their balls fully inflated, maybe Seahawks did not? /nuance

[sphinx]

I didn't watch the game and have no interest in who won. But what's the fuss? Give the ball to a fullback, watch him get stacked up at the line or fumble, and the very same people who are complaining this morning would still be complaining, on the grounds that a run up the middle was the most predictable play in football and the coach should have called something safe, like a short pass.

20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The quarterback threw a bad ball. It happens. Running backs fumble on the goal line. It happens. It happens everywhere, with some regularity, save for one place, and that is in the fantasy football world buried deep in the minds of Monday morning quarterbacks.

[DoodleDawg]

They had what, 20 seconds left? And one timeout. It makes sense in that it allowed for three plays. Pass and complete, touchdown. Pass and incomplete, stop the clock. Then you have two chances to run it in with your one timeout remaining. But the results turned out disastrously.

[RetSignman]

I wouldn’t blame Lynch if he started looking around for another team to play for, there would be a lot of teams who would snap him up.

[edpc]

Jackie Smith (SB 13 dropped pass), Earnest Byner (88 AFC Championship fumble), Tony Romo (2007 playoff XP fumble), and Brett Favre (2010 NFC Championship interception) all agree - that decision was the worst play they’ve ever seen.

[Bulwyf]

I don’t think God gives two hoots about football.

We have far more pressing matters to worry about and so does he.

Football is only there to keep the masses distracted.

[Wolfie]

As soon as Wilson dropped back, I knew what was going to happen. The Universe punishes such stupidity quickly and harshly.

[NELSON111]

>>>I cannot put into words for the lay person, including my wife, how utterly incomprehensibly stupid it was. There is almost nothing to compare it to.

I COMPLETELY agree. If you know football, you realize that this was probably the worst play call in a game that mattered...in HISTORY. It was DUMB on so many levels.

1) You give it to Lynch in this situation. PERIOD. Anything else is being too-cute by half...and out thinking yourself.

2) If by some IDIOTIC reason you want to throw it...you PLAY ACTION because everyone and their momma is expecting a run. You don't line up in a way that shows you are going to pass...

3) If by some IDIOTIC reason you want to throw it on the 1 yard line...YOU DO NOT THROW A SLANT! You do not throw it because in this situation EVERYONE is expecting a run up the middle...thus EVERYONE is stacked in the box. You don't throw a slant because its for SURE to be in traffic.

Carrol can keep telling himself that it was a good call...but he's the only one saying it...and I think deep down even HE has to really believe it was stupid and he out-thunk himself.

[chimera]

I agree with you both. Russell Wilson has some mobility so maybe an option with the receiver running a fade to the corner pattern, something to open it up, because you don’t throw into a crowd at the goal line. If it isn’t there then throw the ball into the stands and take your chances with Marshawn Lynch on 3rd and 4th down. But, its easy to second-guess, so perhaps we shouldn’t (but I can’t help it).

[5thGenTexan]

Yeah, they won. But do you really think the only NFL team to be fined for cheating, with a likely second slap on the wrist after this season’s actions, has God’s favor?

[lepton]

The problem with running was that the Pats had their Goal line defense in with six Linemen on the field. Lynch was 1 of 5 during the regular season this year in that situation, and had been thrown for a loss or just plain stuffed several times in short yardage.

Carroll put in passing personnel, and the Pats put in a heavy front to stop a run. They then isolated the ‘Bottom of the roster rookie’ with a pick play. The problem started when Browner jammed the attempted pick and stood it up at the line, then Butler correctly diagnosed the play and went to the spot the play was designed to go.

Picking on a rookie in a complicated situation is usually a good bet.

[1010RD]

“I was protecting a teammate, emotions flew,” said Irvin, who was penalized and thrown out of the game. “I saw somebody hit Mike Bennett, so I went and backed up my brother. I went about it wrong. Emotions were flying high and I apologize.

“But if it happened again, I would go protect my teammate. That’s just how it is.”

---

That’s what passes for an apology in the 21st century. I’m sorry I got caught and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m just that sorry.